Slight fever, general feeling of illness, skin rash that begins on chest, back, underarm, neck and face. Starts out as red bumps that turn into small blisters. Scabs appear in a few days.

10 to 21 days, usually 14 to 16 days

Contagious a few days before eruption and until vesicles are dry. Exclude until day 6 after rash began or sooner if all blisters have dried into scabs.

Spread from person to person by direct contact with touching the blister fluid or secretions from the nose or mouth of a person with chicken pox. One attack usually confers immunity. Children on immuno-suppressive drugs at high risk. If you take your child to the doctor, they will want to keep your child separate from other children to prevent further spread.

Blisters, pustules rapidly covered with honey-colored crusts. May be confused with cold sores. Usually seen first near mouth or nose. Can spread rapidly.

1 to 10 days, occasionally longer.

Exclude from school until verification of treatment, or until lesions are dry. Contagious until lesions are healed or 24 hours after initiation of oral antibiotics.

Bacteria spread by direct contact with sores, sometimes with contact from discharges from nose or throat of person can be spread through droplets in coughing or sneezing. Usually caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria.

Infestation of the head hair or other hairy parts of the body with lice or nits. Scratching causes reddened, rash-like area. Nits are tiny gray/white eggs, stuck to hair, usually close to scalp at neckline and/or behind ears.

Variable; eggs hatch in 7-10 days.

Exclude until live lice have been adequately treated and removed. Advise exam of household contact for nits and lice. For more information go to theMinnesota Department of Health Web site or call the licensed school nurse in your school building.

Louse transmitted primarily by direct contact with infested persons. Lice can also be transmitted through combs, brushes, bedding, wearing apparel, and upholstered furniture.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Redness of conjunctiva. May or may not have purulent discharge. Eye irritation.